The Donegal beard growing contest starts Tuesday

The North Country Goes Green Irish Festival is looking for men across the region to participate in the annual Donegal beard-growing contest, which kicks off Tuesday.

Men are invited to test their testosterone by growing an Irish-style beard from Tuesday to St. Patricks Day weekend. Prizes will be given for most colorful, best accessorized and best fraternal brother donie (college brothers competition) and the 2013 king of all beards.

Registrants must be clean-shaven to start. Participants are invited to the Sportsmans Barbershop, 310 State St., at noon on New Years Day to register and receive a free shave.

A photograph with a clean-shaven face and either a copy of a newspaper or a news website dated on or after Jan. 1 can be submitted as proof of clean shavenness.